Even as a child, she was welcomed by the guests at her parents’ establishment with a glass of schnapps in their hands. As a born and bred “Puschterin” [someone from Pustertal] and with experience in hospitality, Gudrun Huber now runs the Hofergut in her South Tyrolean homeland. With a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, she looks after both her guests and the almost 1,000-year-old property. She’s like the Fairy Godmother of the building. We asked her about where the walls express their historic charm, which collector’s items are hidden here and what she takes out of the smokehouse at night, plus much more.
How do you greet guests at the Hofergut?
With heartfelt words, a bit of German, a bit of Italian – as is customary in South Tyrol – and of course full of joy at being able to show our guests this beautiful building.
The Hofergut is a historic property – where in the building in particular can you sense its almost 1,000-year-old history?
The thick walls and the beautiful arches in the entrance hall speak volumes and allow everyone to think about who might have come in and out of here. The arches and the lounge are listed and it’s great to make such historic treasures accessible to a wider audience.
A mix of old and new – how did you manage to breathe new life into the listed building and still maintain its charm?
The guiding principle was to return the Hofergut to its former glory – both in terms of its outward appearance and its materials. The façades and walls were plastered with lime, the windows are made out of spruce, the floors are natural stone and knotted oak and the tabletops in the rooms are made in larch. The colour palette is deliberately subtle. The result is a minimalist aesthetic that still has a strong impact.
There are many collector’s items and artworks around the hotel – which do you like in particular?
The hotel has so much to offer, such as the Exlibris collection belonging to the grandfather of the family who owned it. I personally love the windows with the two arches and the stone pillars. For me, it’s like a wonderful painting that changes every day. The old Gothic door is also a masterpiece of dreams. I would love to know who’s turned that handle.
You sneak into the smokehouse at night – which treats do you take from the Honesty Bar and why?
At the end of a busy day, that’s like a holiday for me. I get a good bottle of South Tyrolean wine and a couple of slices of local ham – it’s never too late for that!
The Hofergut is located in the Pustertal in South Tyrol. What makes the region so charming?
The Pustertal is our famous green valley. The Hofergut is embedded in this natural environment in the wide base of the valley and is surrounded by a captivating mountain landscape. As a real Puschterin, I am constantly delighted by the simplicity yet great variety of our landscape. Our UNESCO Natural World Heritage status and Alpine dolce vita makes a superb combination. One of my favourite places is the beautiful Plätzwiese plateau. Just the best mountain panorama.
You have already run several hotels. What makes this one so special for you?
Yes, I have been lucky enough to get to know several great hotels in my career. The Hofergut is a beautiful, historic property with a unique atmosphere that deserves to be looked after with great attention to detail. Buildings like this are often not open for visitors. I try to run this gem of a hotel as if I owned it, with plenty of joy and dedication. Just the way I’d like to experience it if I were on holiday.
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